The wicked witch of San Antonio is a well-known character in folklore and popular culture. She is believed to have magical powers and is often portrayed as an evil and manipulative figure. Legends and tales speak of her wicked spells and curses that she casts on unsuspecting victims. According to local folklore, the wicked witch of San Antonio resides in a hidden lair deep within the heart of the city. It is said that she uses her dark magic to control the minds of others and gain power over them. Many stories allege that she can shape-shift into various forms, making it difficult for anyone to identify her true identity.
As someone who hosts, produces and promotes his own podcast (Every L Podcast) and for others as well, I can say without a shadow of a doubt Castmagic is an ESSENTIAL tool kit to being more productive when it comes to extracting key points from your episodes, including titles, tweet treads, LinkedIn post and an AI chatbot to ask for any additional information I may think of that isn't automatically generated. Excellent tool and great customer service. Highly recommended
Colourful images of carnival or the Nevada desert meet the ethnographic trail of Dynamo as he enters the real world of the people and reflects on what he sees. My legs had to be somewhere, but upside down one loses sense of direction, and I didn t do what I was supposed to do, so I in the rehearsal, I went head down, almost hit my head, she explained.
Many stories allege that she can shape-shift into various forms, making it difficult for anyone to identify her true identity. The people of San Antonio have long feared and respected the wicked witch. Many believe that she is responsible for various misfortunes that have befallen the city throughout history.
THE DOCUMENTARY OF MAGIC: DYNAMO MAGICIAN IMPOSSIBLE by Helen Wood
Having spent such a long time working in various ways on ‘television for women’, I realised lately that there are actually relatively few programmes watched together in my heterosexual, two-toddler household. Quality dramas that require investment tend to stack up on the Sky+ recorder and I might watch half of them alone. Outside of some motorsport and Masterchef, we haven’t watched a lot of television together since the sad passing of ER. That was until a friend pointed us to Dynamo: Magician Impossible on Watch. I can’t say I was convinced when I first heard about it, I have no interest in magic or magic tricks and I actively dislike some of the usual fare of male magicians, especially those that think they can read your mind. But I want to suggest that there is something compelling about Dynamo for the way in which it presents the personalities of Dynamo/ Steven Frayne through its documentary style that means that there is something in it for both of us.
Watch is one of a portfolio of channels which form UKTV, owned 50% by BBC Worldwide, and launched as a general entertainment channel supported by programming from the BBC archive. It has now become UKTV’s flagship channel. The first of two series of Dynamo was launched on watch in 2011, and the third is currently being filmed. It became the Channel’s most watched programme with 1.7 million viewers and was nominated for the 2012 National Television Awards for best entertainment programme. The programme was felt to be a ‘word of mouth’ success and Dynamo now has something like 1.5 million twitter followers and a fan following of ‘Dynamites’.
Steven Frayne AKA Dynamo is a street magician and according to the Watch website, in the first series: ‘the 28-year-old travels the globe as the unassuming anti-hero who just happens to astound everyone he meets, whether international footballer, Hollywood actor or passer-by on the street.’ The opening credits are dark and mysterious – shot like a US crime drama following a hooded figure as he walks down the urban street, establishing Dynamo’s air of mystique.
Fig 1: Dynamo and Hood
His tricks range from epic grand stunts like the newsworthy walking across the Thames, making himself disappear and walking down the side of buildings, to card tricks in the street, linking together polo mints, or putting someone’s ring inside a bottle. The range of magic is really impressive (no rabbits out of hats of course) which is most often performed out on the street to ‘ordinary’ passers-by as well as celebrities. As viewers we are convinced by the reactions of the people when they are left astounded and bewildered as we watch them react, sometimes in slow motion. There is no real ‘ta dah’ where Dynamo takes in the adulation, he simply and coolly walks away. The magic is clever and entertaining and despite the celebrities and the scale of the magic tricks, the whole series taken together is really rather earnest.
What is most interesting to me is not so much the magic, although I am often amazed, but the way the tricks are embedded into a documentary format with some undertones of a social message. The success of the programme is partly related to how well Dynamo’s back-story works for ‘first-person’ documentary. He opens by saying, ‘let me take you on a journey into my world’ and we experience the magic alongside a relatively slow-reveal of his private life. The media reports around him focus upon his working-class background and a narrative of social mobility. He is the son of a single mum, an 8 stone weakling who learnt magic from his grandfather in order to stop bullies putting him in a wheelie bin on a council estate in Bradford. Newspaper headlines run like this, ‘Wimp who walks on water: bullied at school for being puny he’s the council house boy who’s become our most mesmerising magician’. His personal story is carefully woven around the magic, even his Crohn’s disease and x-rays make an appearance. One episode where he mixes with the stars is intercut with images of him driving home following signposts to Bradford. Rather than ending the show with a trick, or a stunned face, it rather simply closes with him getting out of the car at a block of flats on a council estate, pressing the buzzer, and asking for his nan. The dramatic and the extraordinary are exaggerated by the realism of the ordinary and very unassuming Steven Frayne. We have the mysterious celebrity magician hero Dynamo and the working class anti-hero Steven. So used are we to media personae that it doesn’t really jar, rather it’s the key to its success.
Frayne’s career took off as a magician to the stars and so he refers to popstars like ‘Jay Z’ and Damon Albarn as old friends. He never appears star-struck: he performs the same kind of trickery over celebrities as he does to the man or woman in the street. The series seamlessly moves between the worlds of celebrity glamour and the street, held together by the reiterated narrative of each stunning magic trick. But as a documentary it also looks really good. When he goes to Brazil or America, the series uses some of the qualities of a travel documentary with stunning vistas and landscapes. Colourful images of carnival or the Nevada desert meet the ethnographic trail of Dynamo as he enters the ‘real’ world ‘of the people’ and reflects on what he sees. In Brazil, much of the time is spent in the favelas where he performs tricks playing football with children barefoot, pulling coins out of their hands.
Fig 2: Frayne with children
He describes wanting to go to Brazil to reconnect with his magic after suffering from a period of depression after his grandfather died which is edited with family photographs. There he apparently fin
ds new inspiration with the voice over, ‘I guess this is why I came into magic in the first place. To bring people together, to make a connection’. Stephen Frayne’s voice is in some ways the ‘Voice of God’ of traditional documentary but it is not an authoritative voice; it is the slightly shaky voice of a young lad from Bradford.
The picture that is building is one replete with religious overtones. We witness a very uncomfortable lunch with a Brazilian friend and his mother in a favela where Dynamo uses ‘magic to overcome the language barrier’. The awkward dinner is overlaid with choral music as the magic begins to works on two levels. Frayne walks about as man of the people (he is always walking or driving), performing Jesus-like miracles, turning Coke into Fanta, walking on water, and the end of the Brazilian episode even sees him levitating in front of Christ the Redeemer in Rio to the shock and awe of the tourists.
Fig 3: Walking on Water
I actually like the melodrama of it all, and this emphasis upon ‘all people’ means there’s a little room for social conscience. In his visit to LA he describes Venice Beach as ‘more like a melting point for lost souls, the beach has become a refuge for drifters, drunks and homeless people, casualties of the American Dream’ and he performs tricks with these people too, respectfully and quietly with a refreshing absence of judgement.
So, whilst my partner is replaying the magic tricks asking ‘how did he do that?’ and we discuss the various possibilities, I am enjoying the melodrama, the myriad of ordinary people and the story of Stephen Frayne. There’s plenty to discuss there too. Interestingly in 2010 Watch re-launched its brand identity under new straplines: ‘TV is better shared’ and ‘watch together’. In an environment where individual viewing has become much more prominent, I like the merits of television as an ultimately social phenomenon, I just never expected it to come from a programme about magic.
Helen Wood is Professor of Media and Communication at De Montfort University in Leicester. She has published Talking With Television (2009) University of Illinois Press, with Beverley Skeggs, Reality Television and Class (2011) BFI Palgrave and Reacting to Reality Television (2012) Routledge. She is editor of the European Journal of Cultural Studies and is currently working on the AHRC project ‘A History of Television for Women’.
The first film in the Magic Mike franchise came out in 2012 and explored the story of Mike Lane – an experienced stripper who works in an all-male dance group and trains a young teen (Alex Pettyfer, otherwise known as ‘The Kid’) to learn how to turn a profit while having fun. At the end of the film Lane steps away from stripping to pursue a very PG career in carpentry.
Stories narrate instances where she caused storms, droughts, and other natural disasters to wreak havoc on unsuspecting inhabitants. Legends about the wicked witch of San Antonio have been handed down through generations. Locals warn their children to stay away from her supposed dwelling and avoid any encounters with this menacing character. It is believed that if one were to cross paths with her, they would be cursed for life or even worse. Despite numerous accounts and testimonies, the existence of the wicked witch of San Antonio remains shrouded in mystery and skepticism. Some argue that she is nothing more than a product of imagination and storytelling, while others maintain that there is truth behind the tales. Regardless of whether she is real or not, the legend of the wicked witch of San Antonio serves as a cautionary tale in the community. It reminds residents to stay vigilant and be wary of those who may wish to cause harm or manipulation. Although the wicked witch of San Antonio may be feared, her presence also adds to the rich folklore and cultural heritage of the city. Local festivals and events often showcase stories and performances centered around this notorious character, keeping the legend alive for generations to come. In conclusion, the wicked witch of San Antonio is a prominent figure in local folklore and a source of fascination for residents and visitors. Whether based in truth or purely the product of imagination, her existence continues to captivate and intrigue those who hear her tale..
Reviews for "Sorcery and Shadows: The Wicked Witch's Presence in San Antonio"
1. John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "The Wicked Wotch San Antonio". The plot was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow. The characters lacked depth and development, leaving me uninvested in their journeys. Additionally, the writing style was clunky and unpolished, making it hard to engage with the story. Overall, I found the book to be a frustrating and unsatisfying read.
2. Emily - 2 stars - I have to say, "The Wicked Wotch San Antonio" didn't live up to the hype for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story dragged on without much excitement or intrigue. The dialogue felt forced and at times, even cringeworthy. The author also relied heavily on cliches and overused tropes, which made the story feel unoriginal and uninspired. While I appreciate the effort, I ultimately found the book to be lackluster and underwhelming.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Wicked Wotch San Antonio", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing style was overly simplistic, lacking the depth and complexity I typically enjoy in a book. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked the depth needed to truly connect with them. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises or twists. Overall, I found the book to be underdeveloped and lacking in both substance and originality.
4. Michael - 1 star - I found "The Wicked Wotch San Antonio" to be a complete waste of time. The story was convoluted and poorly executed, leaving me confused and frustrated throughout. The character motivations were unclear and inconsistent, making it difficult to understand their actions. The writing itself was uninspiring and lacked any real creativity. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-crafted story.
5. Rachel - 2 stars - "The Wicked Wotch San Antonio" had potential, but unfortunately, it fell flat. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow and dull moments interspersed with rushed and chaotic scenes. The world-building was weak, leaving many unanswered questions and leaving me feeling unsatisfied. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, I was disappointed in this book and would not recommend it to others.